Lint collector



April 7, 1964 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR 3,127,911

' LINT COLLECTOR Filed April 19, 1961 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PHILIP F. MAGUIRE, JR.

ATTOR NEY April 7, 1964 Filed April 19. 1961 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR

LINT COLLECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

PHILIP F. MAGUIRE, JR.

BYW M AT TO R N EY April 7, 1964 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR 3,127,911

LINT COLLECTOR Filed April 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

67 PHILIP F. MAGUIRE,JR.

ATTO R N EY United States Patent 3,127,911 LINT CQLLECTUR Philip F.Maguire, .112, Providence, KL, assignor to Grinnell Corporation,Providence, RJL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 19, 1961, Ser. No.104,046 3 Claims. (61. 139-422) This invention relates to shuttlelesslooms and more particularly to apparatus for collecting and removinglint and fly given off from certain areas of the loom during the weavingoperations, this apparatus being fastened to and part of the loom.

Yarn which is used in weaving cotton or woolen cloth is formed fromsubstantially parallel oriented fibers which are twisted together. Thesefibers occasionally have one end free of the yarn susceptible to beingloosened or broken off. In the course of the weaving operation, forvarious reasons, these ends are often freed and together with loosenedsizing matter form the lint and fly. The accumulation of this lint andfly on a loom which is processing cloth can, if permitted to gounchecked, become a very serious problem because of possibleinterference with the loom operation or if permitted to drop on the yarnor cloth may result in defects in the cloth.

The shuttleless loom by its name implies the absence of a shuttle tocarry bobbins, wound with the filling yarn, across the warp threads on aloom. Instead, the filling is provided by flexible metal bands carryingthe filling from yarn supply reels located at one end of the loom. Thesereels, until now have been located in a pie-shaped segment composed oftwo plates joined at an acute angle to each other and having a smallopening in the apex of the angle through which the filling yarn waspassed. As a result of this arrangement much lint and fly has beengenerated at the opening in the apex, since any upstanding ends in theyarn would rub at the opening and tend to break off. Further, the speedyunwinding of the yarn from the reels has been another factor ingenerating this unwanted matter because of the whipping about of theyarn as it comes OK the reel. Until now the only feasible way ofcleaning this area and preventing lint collect-ion was by a handoperation.

My invention now continuously and automatically prevents unwanted lintand fly from accumulating. This is accomplished by my unique apparatuswhich, in a preferred form, totally encloses the supply reels and byjudicious arrangement of blowing and sucking apparatus and filters,collects the lint and fly and prevents its dis persal to areas where itmight interfere with the machinery or with the quality of the wovencloth.

The objects of my invention are that each shuttleless loom have its owncollection system; that this system be located on the loom at a placewhere a large portion of the lint and fly is formed; and that the systemoperate continuously to collect said lint and fly before it has anopportunity to come to rest on the machinery surfaces or the wovencloth.

Consideration of the following specification and the drawing attachedthereto will provide a better understanding of my invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is perspective view of the preferred embodiment of myinvention, mounted on a shuttleless loom.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of my novel device.

FIGURE 3- is a plan section view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan section view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the intake nozzlesshown in FIGURE 4.

Viewing the drawings with greater particularity it is seen that 10designates a shuttleless loom generally. Fastened to one end of saidloom is my novel cleaning apparatus generally designated as 20.

The apparatus is fastened to the loom by a cast bracket, a showing ofwhich has been omitted to more clearly present the novel components ofmy structure. Fastened t0 the unseen joining bracket are two supportbrackets, one of which is shown at 22. These brackets adjustably supportbracket extensions 26 and 28 which in turn support yarn supply reels 30and 32. These reels are hingedly supported on pins 34 and 36.

The reels are contained within an enclosure formed by sidewalls 38 and40' joined together at an acute angle to form an apex 42. Above thesewalls is a top plate 46, and beneath the walls, a bottom plate 48. Inthe preferred embodiment of my lapparatus this bottom plate slopesdownwardly toward the front portion. As shown in the drawing, thesegment thus formed is essentially pieshaped, containing a rounded frontportion 50. Extending across and partially up the front is a sheet metalapron 52. This apron leans outwardly at its top edge 53. Above the apronand covering the remainder of the front portion is a clear polyvinylplastic curtain '54 suspended from a curtain rod 56 by standard moldednylon sliders 53. This curtain contains two side metal rods supports 6%and 62 which each contain a hole therethrough to receive a guide pin 64and 66. Because of the outwardly extending edge 53 a more positivesealing engagement is provided between the curtain and the apron duringoperation of the apparatus.

Within the enclosure is a conduit, preferably a flexible suction hose 68which extends from the top to almost the bottom of the front of the reelenclosure. This hose enters a lint collection chamber 70 above the reelenclosure. At the lower portion of each of the sidewalls 38 and 40 is arotatable nozzle. These are indicated by numerals 7-2 and 74. At thefront end of the nozzles are protecting strips 76 and 78 joined to thebottom and sides of the container, which prevent the unwinding yarn fromtangling on the nozzles. This arrangement is clearly shown in FIGURE 5of the drawing.

Above the reel enclosure is the lint collection chamber 70. This chamberis composed of sidewalls 90 and 92. Extending through sidewall 92 is aself contained suction fan 94 which causes air to flow from the reelenclosure through the flexible hose 68 and into the chamber 70.

Contained Within the chamber are filter screens 80, 82, 84 and 86 of aforaminous material, preferably woven metal mesh. These screens areinsertable from the front of the chamber in guides which retain screens80 and 82 in spaced parallel relation to each other and wall and also 84and 86 in spaced parallel relation to each other and wall 92. Screens 32and 84, likewise screens 89 and 86 abut each other in sealing engagementat an acute angle substantially equal to the angle formed by walls 9%and 92. As a result of this relationship a small suction plenum chamberis formed between screen 80 and wall 90 and between screen 86 and wall92. Thus, all the air being sucked into fan 94 must first pass throughscreens 86 82, 84 and 86. The filter screens 80 and 86 are of a finermesh than the filter screens 82 and 84. Therefore, when lint laden airpasses through all the screens, filtration occurs on the surfaces of allthe screens. Any lint passing through filters 82 and 84 will be trappedby filters 8t and 86. Eventually a lint blanket will build up on theselast two screens and increase the filtering efliciency since the blanketwill also act as a filter.

The operation of my device is as follows:

As the suction fan 94 operates this causes a lowered pressure in chamber70 which in turn instigates an air flow through the hose 68. This inturn lowers the pressure in the container 20 and causes air to enterthrough the nozzles 72 and '74. These nozzles are rotatably adjustableso that they may be properly directed to cause an optimum air flowtoward hose 68. Due to the fact that so many different types of clothfrom different types of yarn may be woven on any single loom, adifferent setting of nozzles 72 and 74 may be required for each type ofyarn to drive the maximum amount of lint toward hose 6%. The presence ofthe sloping bottom of the container also aids in moving the maximumamount of lint toward hose 68. The hose has fastened at its bottom end aspring loaded disk clip 67 through which the connecting strand 69 isthreaded. The strand 69 is the means by which the beginning of reel 32is fastened to the end of reel 30 and thereby removes the requirement ofdofling an empty reel as soon as all the yarn is expended. Normally thestrand 69 would whip about due to the air movement, and as a resultpossibly break. The clip 67 retains the strand in a restrained butmovable position and thus overcomes the whipping difiiculty. Naturally,other suitable means for restraining strand 69 may be used in lieu ofclip 67.

Air flowing toward and then up tube 68 carries with it any lint givenoft" by the movement of the yarn 31 as it whips about while beingwithdrawn from reel 30 at a high speed and passes through the eye 42'.The lint is carried into chamber 74) and toward suction fan 94. Becauseof the restriction to flow area caused by the filter screens 34 and 86,part of the air carrying the lint will not flow directly through thesescreens to fan 94 but will have a portion that is required to be passed,as well, through filter screens 80 and 82. As a result lint will bedeposited on all four filter screens 89, 82, 84 and 86, the largerparticles on coarser screens 82 and 84 and the finer particles onscreens 89 and 86. As the finer particles accumulate on screens 80 and86 they will build up a felt layer between these screens and 82 and 84,which act to increase the efiiciency of the filtration action. The airwhich is carrying this lint, once divested thereof, will pass into theplenum chamber formed by screens 80 and 86 and side walls 94} and 92 andthen into the fan 94.

Periodically this chamber 70 and the filters may be inspected andcleaned through the doors 95 and 97, which are hinged to the outercasing.

The interior of container 20 may be periodically inspected by lookingthrough the transparent curtain 5 Should something within the containerrequire attention, either rod support 60 or 62. may be disengaged fromguide pin 64 or 66 and the curtain slid to one side or the other on therod 56. The most frequent operation which may occur in the container isthat of replacing an empty reel. It is obvious that my unique apparatuswill not present any noteworthy interference with such an operationsince easy access is available to the reel supports which may be pivotedinto position for easy loading and unloading.

It is, of course, to be understood that the details of my invention,described and illustrated, are merely illustrative and not limiting, aschanges in details may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a loom having a plurality of supply reelsproviding filling yarn to be woven:

(A) a container enclosing said reels,

(1) said container having a substantially flat bottom sloping downwardlytowards one side of said container,

(B) a lint collection chamber joined to said container,

(C) a suction device connected to said chamber,

(D) a conduit having one end with access to the interior of said chamberand extending into said container with the other end adjacent the lowestportion of said bottom of said container,

(E) slidably removable filter means in said chamber sealingly interposedbetween said one end of said conduit and said suction device,

(F) at least one elbow-shaped rotatable nozzle in a side wall of saidcontainer directed into said container toward the lowest portion of saidbottom of said container and said conduit,

(1) said nozzle providing free passage of air from the exterior of saidcontainer to the interior in the form of a directable stream inaccordance with the demand requirements of said suction device; wherebysaid stream may be directed along the bottom of said container towardsaid conduit to give optimum cleaning in accordance with the type ofyarn on said supply reels.

2. In combination with a loom having a plurality of supply reelsproviding filling yarn to be woven:

(A) a container enclosing said reels, said container including:

(2) a bottom,

(3) two converging flat side walls joined at an apex,

(4) an open portion at the divergent ends of said side walls oppositesaid apex,

(5) said bottom sloping downwardly from said apex to said open portion,and

(6) at least one movable closure member across said open portionsealably engaging the exterior of said container about said openportion,

(B) a lint collection chamber fastened to the top of said container,said chamber including:

(2) a bottom,

(3) two converging flat side walls joined at an apex and beingsubstantially parallel to the side walls of said container,

(4) an open portion at the divergent ends of said chamber side wallsopposite said apex, and

(5) at least one movable closure member across the open portion of saidchamber sealably engaging the exterior of said chamber about said openportion,

(C) a suction device fastened to a side wall of said chamber,

(D) a conduit having one end with access to the interior of said chamberand extending into said container adjacent said open portion from thetop of said container to a position wherein the other end is adjacentthe lowest portion of said bottom of said container,

(E) a pair of slidably removable spaced filter screens spaced from andsubstantially parallel to each side wall of said chamber,

( 1) all of said screens being closer to the side walls than the saidone end of the conduit,

(2) one screen of each pair being of a coarser mesh than the otherscreen,

(3) the coarser screens being placed in said chamber interiorly of theother screens,

(4) said coarser screens sealingly abutting each other at an apexsubstantially parallel to the apex of said chamber side wall apex, and

(5) said other screens sealingly abutting each other at an apexintermediate and substantially parallel to the apexes of said coarserscreens and said chamber side walls,

(F) an elbow-shaped rotatable nozzle in each side wall directed into theinterior of said container toward said open portion of said containerand said conduit,

(1) said nozzles providing free passage of air from the exterior of saidcontainer to the interior in the form of directable streams inaccordance with the demand requirements of said suction device;

7 whereby said streams may be directed along the bottom of saidcontainer toward said conduit to give optimum cleaning in accordancewith the type of yarn on said supply reels.

3. A lint collector for a loom having a plurality of supply reelscomprising:

(A) a container adapted to enclose said reels having:

(2) a bottom,

(3) two converging flat side Walls joined at an apex,

(4) an open portion at the divergent ends of said side walls oppositesaid apex,

(5) said bottom sloping downwardly from said apex to said open portion,

(6) at least one movable closure member across said open portionsealably closing said open portion,

(B) a collection conduit having an intake opening within said containerproximate the lowest portion of said bottom,

(C) means including a suction source joined to said collection conduitfor collecting lint carried by said conduit,

(D) at least one elbow-shaped rotatably adjust-able nozzle in each sidewall of said container directable toward said open portion of saidcontainer,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,057,139 Eaddy Oct. 13, 1936 2,400,792 Turner May 21, 1946 2,651,473Siegenthaler Sept. 8, 1953 2,944,414 Malloy et a1. July 12, 1960 FOREIGNPATENTS 638,167 Canada Mar. 13, 1962 738,868 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1955334,584 Switzerland Jan. 31, 1959

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LOOM HAVING A PLURALITY OF SUPPLY REELSPROVIDING FILLING YARN TO BE WOVEN: (A) A CONTAINER ENCLOSING SAIDREELS, (1) SAID CONTAINER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM SLOPINGDOWNWARDLY TOWARDS ONE SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, (B) A LINT COLLECTIONCHAMBER JOINED TO SAID CONTAINER, (C) A SUCTION DEVICE CONNECTED TO SAIDCHAMBER, (D) A CONDUIT HAVING ONE END WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OFSAID CHAMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID CONTAINER WITH THE OTHER ENDADJACENT THE LOWEST PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, (E)SLIDABLY REMOVABLE FILTER MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER SEALINGLY INTERPOSEDBETWEEN SAID ONE END OF SAID CONDUIT AND SAID SUCTION DEVICE, (F) ATLEAST ONE ELBOW-SHAPED ROTATABLE NOZZLE IN A SIDE WALL OF SAID CONTAINERDIRECTED INTO SAID CONTAINER TOWARD THE LOWEST PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM OFSAID CONTAINER AND SAID CONDUIT, (1) SAID NOZZLE PROVIDING FREE PASSAGEOF AIR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER TO THE INTERIOR IN THE FORMOF A DIRECTABLE STREAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEMAND REQUIREMENTS OFSAID SUCTION DEVICE; WHEREBY SAID STREAM MAY BE DIRECTED ALONG THEBOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER TOWARD SAID CONDUIT TO GIVE OPTIMUM CLEARING INACCORDANCE WITH THE TYPE OF YARN ON SAID SUPPLY REELS.